There are a number of brilliant early Arsenio albums---the two on Tumbao, Dundunbanza and Montuneando probably being the ones to get---and maybe those should be an interested listener's first stop. But Primitivo remains my favorite late Arsenio record.

If forced to choose between the recordings AR made after getting to the US, I'd go: Primitivo, Palo Congo (basically an Arsenio record, despite the Sabu nametag), Quindembo, Como Se Goza en el Barrio, La Pachanga, Arsenio Dice, and then the two dicey Conjunto records. I haven't yet heard Viva Arsenio! or Cumbanchando.

This 1963 recording of twelve short, punchy Afro-Cuban tunes, long after AR had moved stateside from Cuba, has fallen into the dustbin of history with nary an autopsy, but it's a belter all the way through. There's no jazz vamping to detract from the inflammatory son montunos and guajiras. It makes Buena Vista Social Club and subsequent attempts to resurrect Afro-Cuban music seem sadly pale and wheezy. I'm not saying those aren't good, but Primitivo is....well, primitivo. Sprinkled throughout are Arsenio's lightning-fast, hard-to-decipher Cubanized West African yells peppering the stew.

Personal favorites here are the rumba "Tu me engañastes, Juana," the brash son montuno, "A Gozar Mujeres," and the unusual flamenco-rumba blend "Coplas de España," in which Arsenio replicates the sound of the flamenco guitar with his tres guitar."

привет

Welcome to Ghostcapital. This blog is an effort to share the love of rare, under-appreciated and oddball music of many kinds. I offer album rips, gratis- mostly from vinyl. Sometimes other stuff, too. If you have an issue with your music being here, then kindly let me know. I strongly encourage everyone to purchase good albums from your favorite independent retailer. Real, brick & mortar record stores are truly where its at. Dig it.